Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple claims the iPhone 16 Pro ships with “2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.” Yet, early drop tests suggest it appears to shatter more easily upon impact.
The iPhone 16 Pro might be more prone to damage upon fall due to its slimmer bezels and increased weight.
Apple’s new Ceramic Shield glass might not be as tough as it claims
Apple uses the second-generation Ceramic Shield glass on the front of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16. The rear panels still use the first-gen variant of the glass. Given Apple’s bold claims, you’d expect the new iPhones to fare better in drop tests and not shatter easily. But that does not seem to be the case.
YouTuber EverythingApplePro conducted an in-depth drop test comparing the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max to its predecessors. The YouTuber dropped the four phones from varying heights on a concrete phone to test their durability.
Initially, the new iPhones performed similarly to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in multiple waist height drops from the front and back. The frame got some minor scuffs, but that’s about it.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s rear glass was the first to give up, shattering upon impact from a shoulder-height drop on concrete. Interestingly, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s front and more durable Ceramic Shield shattered upon a face-down shoulder-height drop. The iPhone 15 Pro Max survived the same drop easily.
It’s likely that the newer iPhone’s higher weight — the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 6 gms more than its predecessor — played a key role in this.
Use a case with your iPhone 16 to keep it safe
Following this, the YouTuber upped the ante by dropping the iPhones from a 20ft height. While unrealistic, the test again showed a surprising result, with the iPhone 16 Pro’s front display shattering. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max survived the fall without any damage to its front glass.
Despite Apple’s claims that the second-generation Ceramic Shield is more durable, you should use a case with your new iPhone. While the new glass might be tougher, the added weight seems to negate its benefits. Thankfully, there are plenty of great cases available for the iPhone 16 lineup to pick from.